Focal passage: Romans 5:1-11
I recently ran across a blog post about “15 things you can start doing today to bring inner peace into your life.” As you can imagine, what followed was a list of list of tasks like: set limits, slow down, disconnect, escape, breathe (that’s kind of important!), do one thing at a time and unclutter your world.
While none of these ideas are bad in and of themselves, there are a couple of issues with the idea that the items on this list will bring someone true inner peace.
First, they all depend on the efforts of the person, and they offer a temporary fix at best.
In Romans 5, Paul points us to the reality of a true peace, a peace that is found only through our justification as we accept the truth of the gospel message.
This peace that Paul teaches about is one of rest and tranquility. It is an assurance of our salvation through Christ. It is a lack of fear for the worldly issues we face and a contentment in our present circumstances.
Peace with God comes with hope, the ability to rejoice in our sufferings, the experience of God’s love and the gift of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Peace is available because we are justified through Jesus’s sacrificial death in our place. His death reconciled us with God when we accept the gospel. Reconciliation means we are no longer enemies with God. We are saved from His wrath and we have ultimate peace.
His peace doesn’t rely on our efforts, and it is eternal.